Electric flash light



Nov. 17, 1925- Filed Oct. 50. 1922 Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

.- CAMERON TURNER, 0F BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR INDUSTRIES,

INC, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFVILIIJINOIS- ELECTRIC FLASH LIGHT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CAMERON TURNER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Flash Lights, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. v

This invention relatesto flashlights, and is illustrated as embodied in a well-known type of hand flashlight or torch employing dry batteries.

As flashlights of-this character become more and more a necessity, to automobilists and others, the inconvenience caused by burning out or breakage of the bulb becomes constantly greater, and attempts have been made to provide for carrying one or more spare bulbs. Heretofore such spare bulbs have not been held firmly enough to withstand the rough usage given to flashlights of this type, andmoreover the special receptacles' heretofore rovided add undesirably to the length 0 the flashlight casing.

One object of the present invention is to obviate the latter difliculty by providing a compact arrangement for carrying one or more spare bulbs. From this point of view the invention may be regarded as comprising a casing carrying the usual light on one end, a battery within the casing, a cap on the other endcof the casing, and .a spring engaging the cap and urging the battery for ward, together with a spare-bulb carrier nested within the spring in'such a manner as in no wise to render it necessary to increase the over-all length of the casing. A, bumper may be provided to prevent injury to the bulb in case the spring is excessively compressed. Conveniently the carrier may be mounted on an auxiliary cap seated w1th1n an outer annu ar cap to permit removal of the carrier wlthout disturbing the spring or battery.

A further object of the invention is to provide for firmly holding the bulbsto prevent breakage. This is accomplished by providing one or'more threaded sockets in a carrier, e. g. such as described above, to receive the threaded stems of the spare bulbs. I preferto arrange such sockets with their axes parallel to the axis of the casing. so

that ,most of the jars and strains will come longitudinally of the bulbs. According to one feature of the invention, from this point ofview, the bulb-carrier is made of resilient or elastic material, as for example rubber, whichacts as a cushion.-

From another point of view, the invention may be regarded as contemplating the use of improved means for holding a plurality of spare bulbs. As will be clear from the drawings, a plurality of spckets is arranged symmetrically about the axis of the casing. and spring.

Other objects and features of the invention, including improved constructions and novel combinations of parts will be apparent from the following description of several embodiments of m invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a' View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, showing a first modification;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofthe end of the flashlight shown in Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the auxililtry (iap carrying the spare-bulb carrier of Fig. 4 is a sectiorfal view of the end of a second modification;

Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view of a third modification Fig. 6 is a perspective view of .the support for the spare-bulb carrier of Fig. 5;

/ Fig. 7 is a sectional'view of the end of a fourth modification;

Fig. 8 is a partial plan view of the sparebulb carrier-0f Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view show:

ing the means for removing the spare bulbs of Fig. 7. i

The flashlight in each modification comprises .a casing 10, which may be formed of fiberboard or metal in the usual way, and which carries a light in an enlarged end 12. The light carries a terminal, and abattery 1% within the casing has a corresponding terminal andis yieldlngly urged forward to keep the terminals in contact. These parts of the flashlight maybe of any suitable form and are il ustrated as ordinarily constructed in commercial flashlights. In the modification illustrated in F1 s. 1, 2, and 3, the end of the casing 10 is c osed by a screw cap 16 of annular shape and an auxiliary cap 18, on which is mounted a cylindrical spare-bulb carrier 20, frictionally seats therein. I prefer that the bulb carrier be made of elastic or resilient mate rial, such as rubber, felt, etc., which will.

cushion the bulbs against shocks and jars. A battery-engagmg member, such as a COll low spring, surrounds carrier and engages the annular cap '16. This spring urges the battery forward in the casing in the usual way. The carrier 20 is provided with a series (e. g. three) of sockets 24 arranged symmetrically about the axis of the casing and spring. Each socket is threaded, firmly to hold the threaded stem of a spare bulb 26. A bumper 28 prevents the bulbs from being injured if spring 22 is excessively compressed.

The modification shown in Fig.4 is like that shown in Fig. 1 except that the auxiliary cap 18 is screw-threaded'in place in the annular cap 16. To facilitate its removal, it may conveniently be provided with a transverse slot 21. tov receive the edge of a coin. Y

Inthe modification illustrated in Fig. 5, a single threaded cap 30 is provided, and the spare-bulbcarrier 32 is mounted on a support 34 having arms 36 terminating in hooks 38 (Fig. 6) to hook over spring 22.

In this modification the bulbs are yieldingly supported. Carrier 32, like carrier 20, is provided with several (e. g." three) threaded sockets arranged symmetrically about the axis of spring 22 and casing 10.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, a screw cap 40 carries a spare-bulb carrier 42 formed with a series of radial sockets 44 symmetrically arranged about its axis. A central hole 46 is provided for a spring 48, which has the same function as the above-described spring 22. A ring 50 surrounding cap 40 has a hole 52 which can be brought into registration with any one of the sockets 44. Sockets 44 are not screw threaded, the bulbs resting on pieces of felt at the bottoms of the sockets.

While various forms of my invention have been illustrated and described, it is not my intention to limit its scope thereby, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical battery in the casing, an annular cap over the end of the casing, a helical spring engaging the cap and urging the battery forward in the casing, a spare-bulb carrier nested within the spring, and an auxiliary cap carrying the spare-bulb carrier and seated within the annular cap to be separately r'emovable.

2. A flashlightcomprising. in combination, a cylindrical casing, a cylin'drical battery in the casing, an annular cap over the end of the casing, a helical spring engaging the cap and urging the battery forward in, the casing, and an auxiliary cap seated in the annular cap and having. a support for a spare bulb within the helical spring. or helical spring 22, or an equivalent hol- 3. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical battery in the casing, an annular cap over the end of the casing, a helical spring engaging the cap and urging. the battery forward in the casing, and an auxiliary cap seated in the annular cap and having a support for a plural'ty of'spare bulbs arranged within the spr ng and about the axis of the spring.

4. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing, a cylindrical battery in the casing, an annular cap over the in the casing, and a spare-bulb carrier inside the spring and supported by the cap.

6. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a casing, a battery longitudinally movable in the casing, a cap over the end of the casing, a spring engaging the cap and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a spare-bulb carrier within the spring and having a bumper to prevent injury to the bulb when the spring is excessively compressed.

7. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a casing, a battery longitudinally movable in the casing, a cap over the end of the casing, a hollow spring engaging the cap and the battery and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a spare-bulb carrier inside the spring.

8. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a casing, a battery longitudinally movable in the casing, a cap over the end of the casing, a hollow spring engaging the cap and the battery and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a carrier inside the. cap'formed with a series of sockets for spare bulbs arranged symmetrically about the axis of the spring and easing.

9. A flashlight as defined by claim 8 having the sockets threaded to receive the threaded stems of the bulbs and arranged with their axes parallel to the axis of the spring. 1 10. A flashlight as defined by claim 8 havmg the carrier inside of the spring. I

11. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing, a battery in the casing, a cap over the end of the; casing, a hollow spring engaging the cap and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a carrier inside of the spring having a threaded bulb socket.

12. A flashlight comprising, in combination, a cylindrical casing, a battery in the casing, a cap over the end of the casing, a hollow spring engaging the cap and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a carrier inside of the spring having a threaded bulb socket with its axis parallel to .the axis of the spring and easing.

13. A flashlight comprlslng, 1n combina-v tion, a cylindrical casing, a battery in the casing, a cap over the end of the casing, a hollow spring engaging the cap and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a carrier inside of the spring having a threaded bulb socket and a bumper to prevent injury to a bulb in the socket when the spring is excessively compressed.

14. A flashlight comprising, in combiner-- tion, a cylindrical casing having-a light at one end, a, battery in'the c'asing,wa cap over the other end of the casing, a spring engaging the battery and cap and urging the battery forward in the casing, and a carrier in the longitudinal. space. defined by the spring between the battery and the end of the cap and mounted'on the cap and hay:

16. flashlight comprisi g, in combina tion, 'a casing, a battery in the casing, a

cap for the end of the casing, "a coil spring engaging the battery and the cap and urging them apart, and a spare bulb carrier inside of the cap and constructed and arranged tohold a plurality of spare bulbs 'angularly spaced about the. axis of the spring, the carrier being in the space longitudinally of the flashlight defined by the spring, f

' In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecificat'ion.

CAMERON TURNER. 

